Have you wondered how an applicant tracking system (ATS) works? Or how important it actually is? While ATS systems have been primarily used in tech-focused and enterprise organizations, their use is on the rise among small to medium businesses every day. Content should always come before design, so using a fancy format that compromises the ability of an ATS scanner OR a recruiter to read your resume just isn’t worth the risk.

If you’re worried about an ATS-friendly resume being too dull for recruiters, don’t be. We’ve asked countless recruiters, and as it turns out, most of them prefer to look at a resume that is ATS compatible because this means it will be easier to read in a short amount of time. Considering recruiters only spend, on average, six seconds deciding whether or not your resume is worth a second look, it’s even more crucial that your resume stands out for the right reasons.

Now that you know why ATS matters, check out the infographic below to see how it works.

Here at Executive Drafts, we employ resume designs free of fancy formats, fonts, and graphics that can confuse the robots and focus on resume writing that is ATS and recruiter-friendly. This means plugging in the appropriate keywords where necessary, choosing web-standard fonts, and using a clutter-free design. If you’re not sure whether or not your resume would make the cut, we’re happy to take a look. Start by submitting your resume for a complimentary critique on our website today!

Infographic courtesy of Resunate